My Activity Tracking
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Day 3 - CBRN Challenge
So with maybe 1 or 2 hours sleep I was then unable to get any rest before my alarm would get me up for 4:30am. Nevertheless I was suited and booted by 6:02am and my final day of the challenge had begun.
I decided as there was so much time left before the gates would open that I would try and get some rest as the rain had almost stopped by now and I was at least for the time being dry and warm.
I wore the Desert DPM suit on the final day and opted to not wear the plate carrier and instead to wear the field belt kit as it gave me more useful pockets.
As the prior days had been so tough on my body, going more minimal felt like an acceptable compromise.
This made a huge difference, and with the mutual walk around site with East-West Forces plus some gents from the Dutch group Lewis joined me once again in full kit but this time they would be carrying the SA80 replica which took a little more weight off my shoulders.
Walking the showground as a squad of 7 gas masked soldiers must have been a great sight but unfortunately due to a combination of the weather and timing with the battlefield all the areas we walked to were quite sparsely populated, we only managed to get a few small donations but plenty of photos, hopefully they materialise in the coming days or weeks.
We thanks the gents for joining us and headed toward my next break.
My routine for taking breaks was to remove my gasmask, pull the hood down and eat something to keep my energy up, but usually in the privacy of the tent to try and keep my face anonymous for some reason.
Today I decided to just partly de-kit in one of the main food areas so my food didn't get cold and maybe those who saw me would see the real time break to maybe appreciate how little time my face would be exposed to fresh air and sunshine.
The curry was excellent and the milkshake couldn't have been a better choice at this time and really felt like a well deserved treat.
I masked back up, helmet on and continued with my day walking the grounds collecting money.
I began to struggle with the task as the day continued. Lewis had sacrificed a lot of time to be my chaperone/handler for the weekend so I let him off to get some things done and decided to meet up a couple hours later.
Unfortunately, this was the hardest time for me. The ground were emptying more quickly, traders were packing up and perhaps because I was walking alone I became the target for negative comments from members of the public.
I couldn't react to the negativity as I was representing Combat Stress and Military Odyssey, but nevertheless sucked my energy and brought it home how sacrificing oneself for the greater good can really be a struggle mentally.
Thankfully one shining light was a lady who called out to me as I walked through the indoor market in order to get me to stop so she could put some money into my bucket.
She told me just how much she appreciated what I was doing, as she has family who have served and suffered with PTSD and other mental challenges and needed support. She told me what I was doing was incredible and that she was proud of me for doing it. She was getting upset and despite the fact I had tinted lenses on my gas mask she could see her words had hit me too.
It was a very very weird feeling to be crying to myself in the middle of an open plan indoor market behind a gasmask, knowing all people would see was this fully covered 'soldier' just walking along and occasionally being mistaken for a mannequin.
I headed to the main gate for the last time and it felt like one of the most productive stays at the gate itself.
Once the gates were closed I collected all the money and deposited it all back ready to count it up that evening.
The words of the people I met rang through my ears as I waited for the final countdown to end.
I was again getting emotional as it came to a close and I could finally say I had completed my self set challenge with honour.
Those who chose to try and bully a stranger who was only trying to do a good thing couldn't comprehend what I had been going through. Those who criticised my uniform, weapons or my general appearance are unlikely to ever really appreciate giving of oneself to do something selfless.
The one's who gave me encouragement, who said heartfelt things to this strange masked man gave me the strength to get to the end and I thank them for being authentic and open with me.
Thank fully I was able to get an extra day in order to pack up, and do the 4 hour journey home the following day.
Day 2 - CBRN Challenge
Yesterday I was up at 7am and faffed too much so today I needed to be up 30 minutes earlier. I don't typically get up this early unless I've got a flight to catch!
Priorities were collecting my airsoft rifle and pistol this time to try and complete the look but on the way decided to get a coffee and broke the seal in order to drink it...an unusual way to consume coffee but it worked and gave me a little taste of regular life outside of this voluntary slot. Water pack reconnected I flushed the drinking straw and got on with my day collecting to Combat Stress.
Suited and booted once more in the forest green DPM suit but this time a fresh suit from the box. I ventured out on time and joined the Sea Cadets at the front gate.
I brought along my cards this time and managed to hand them all out as people walked past. I actually got a few donations this time as some people recognised the charity and wanted to contribute, when they saw what I was doing they told me how much they appreciated what I was doing.
A much drier day helped me to endure the gear for longer periods and it felt like the day flew by.
I ran into the chaps from East West Forces who accompanied me last year in their own CBRN period kit (70s/80's British uniforms) and I arranged to do the same on the Monday so we'd all be doing a circuit of the showground attracting as much attention as possible.
Lewis joined my in their matching CBRN kit and we got some funds raised as we walked around the area the traders had set up.
I was able to shorten my break times on this day as the weather hadn't added as much burden to me as the day prior and this meant I could finish a little bit earlier than the night before.
I was buoyed by a very secretive activity that evening, where I was instructed to get to the battlefield for 6:30pm but given no more details.
I was collected by Land Rover and driven to a far corner where I discovered I would be set up to fire some real weapons. My heart was racing but it was a thrill to actually be able to say I've fired a real gun now! Thank you to the guys that made it happen!
In fact I was able to de-kit just at 12 hours was reached, shower, then grab some hot food and relax in the bar before resting up for an even earlier start.
Day 1 - CBRN Challenge
The plan is for Lewis to hold me accountable for my time spent in kit and it didn't start well. Light rain and being a little out of practice meant I faffed a bit too much gearing up and somehow I thought adding a voice amplifier so I could talk to people more easily, this just added complexity but I had the suite, boots, gloves and mask on by 08:15 (the aim was 8am) the rest came in time and I was at the front gate by 09:15 after collecting my rifle, collection buckets and card machine.
As expected the crowds got to see me as they came in, but very few donations, but that wasn't the point, it was to capture their eyes so when they see me later they can link back to when they saw me earlier in the day and hopefully understand the challenge a bit more.
I certainly got asked why would I want to wear so much kit, sympathies and curious questions came at me all day.
Unfortunately the rain came down and soaked me through and at me first half our break I was really feeling the weight of everything, so decided to make some changes to my configuration.
Alongside the DPM CBRN suits I have a grey police one piece CBRN suit which is also waterproof. As it technically fitted with the challenge (though perhaps not the re-enactment part) so I swapped over to a dry set of PCS uniform and jumped into the dry suit, masked up and headed back out after an extended break.
Due to my extending the time I'd have to finish my day later, but to be honest I felt that was a compromise I was willing to make considering the alternative of staying in wet kit and risking getting a cold and making the next two days even harder.
On my walkabout during the day we came across one veteran who served with the 'Sappers' who was recounting his time with them in 'noddy suits' so looked us up and down and appreciated what we were doing as he had to spend time wearing similar.
At the end of the public day I stood by the entry gates and here is where most of the public would add money to the buckets.
With the gates closed my day was still over three hours from being finished, but as the public had mostly gone I dropped the money off at HQ to be stored in the safe and headed back to the tend for a rest.
As my timer had started and stopped at a few points throughout the first day I was encouraged to show the traders and campers that I was still going strong so we went for a walk around the perimeter of the showground and got food on the walk back.
Once back at the tent again it was revealed I'd clocked up 12 hours and 22 minutes in total that day.
I was very relieved to take the mask off at this point as it felt like it had created it's own grooves in my face.
Chicken noodles never tasted so good. Shower before bed and I slept very deeply almost forgetting to set my alarm for the next day!
Retrospective blog entry
I wanted to add a blog entry for fit into the time just prior to the actual weekend. I was very busy getting things ready and didn't have time.With Military Odyssey fast approaching I've seen the weather isn't looking too great but I'd rather experience this then the intense sunshine I had last year. Hopefully it doesn't put too many people off attending as that will mean less money in the bucket and less awareness of Combat Stress.
I've got three sets of CBRN kit so I'm not wearing the same sweaty suit every day and risking the challenge finishing early due to anything.
I'll be camping with the team who are supporting me throughout the weekend, but it'll be in an authentic 12x12 army tent in the woods on the showground itself.
I'm considered a re-enactor for these purposes and gives me ideas about expanding that side of my interests. We shall see.
Anyway, I'm feeling more confident in my own ability to complete the challenge, though I am questioning whether the increase in difficulty will not be noticed and therefore be a bit futile to add more burden to myself without the equivalent payoff in donations?
Struggling
Three weeks today and I'm not feeling prepared enough.Increasing my frequency of walking and walking longer distances doesn't feel like enough.
I did 20k steps each day last year during the challenge and lately I've averaged around 9.5k and that's in civvies. I've not done a resi-run in months but I have one last opportunity to push.
I took the fact that I was being more active last year for granted, and that fed into my ability to endure the challenge last year. I'm realising now that I should have started training sooner.
Fundraising has stalled too. I keep pushing but it's resulting in nothing being added to the pot.
My motivation is waning and this challenge doesn't feel like it's being taken seriously.
What am I doing wrong?
My Motivation
I've been asked a few times why this? Why not do a run, or cycle, join a fundraiser with measurable outcomes?Honestly I kind of fell into this solution. I wanted to get as much attention for Combat Stress whilst collecting donations, I wanted to push myself and I wanted to do something out of the ordinary.
I also wanted a way to show my empathy for servicemen and servicewomen. As a civilian, I'm too old now so I can't join the Army and I regret not taking my opportunity when younger.
So, I can't be deployed into action, I can't even do basic training. I'd probably hurt myself even trying.
So what can I do that pushes me in a way that is a bit different, that gets attention and catches the imagination?
Full CBRN kit is something I hear many ex-soldiers say they detest, it's hot, uncomfortable and high burden to body and psychologically.
It also had to be achievable! I'm no athletic youngster, but I have trained for this and that in itself has given me back some of the dignity I lacked prior to this.
I want to do this every year for as long as I can, but I need to increase the challenge to make it worthwhile on the sponsorship side of things.
Last year during my challenge I received some really wholesome comments from vets who understood my commitment, and that really kept me going last year.
Hopefully I don't trigger any bad memories for anyone appearing like this, but instead my hope is that anyone who has served can recognise my passion to endure just a tiny percentage of the suck they've been through.
Whilst I get to go home at the end of my weekend without genuine fear of injury or worse, I do hope in a small way it makes a real difference to those who might benefit from the funds raised.
It's always about them.
First blog entry 2026 - A retrospective of 2025 and motivation for 2026
Looking back on 2025 I feel a sense of pride. I started the year as a couch potato, I picked myself up and completed the couch to 5k challenge, only to get bored after it finished.I decided to up the difficulty by wearing my gas mask to reduce my air intake. It really sucked but taking that mask off after a the first 30 minute run felt amazing, it was addictive. I felt renewed.
I kept going running in darkness so as to not scare my neighbours when my best friend joined me and we both came up with this challenge to be completed at Military Odyssey.
With the gracious approval of the M.O team i was granted permission to represent Combat Stress.
Having never attempted anything like this, it was nerve wracking, exhausting, sweaty, it really pushed me to the limit!
I was kept going by the resounding support from the public, stopping to talk to me, cheer me on, donate and get photos together.
The part most unexpectedly was the parents who encouraged their kids to get photos with me, the tiny faces looking up at me in awe and the tales from children telling me I inspired them.
How could I not do it again? Last year I spent 'all day' whilst M.O was open. It totalled 7 hours on day one, 8.5 hours on day two and another 8 hours on day three.
This year I'm planning to do 12 hours every day, I'll be kitted up before most are out of bed, two short breaks every four hours to replenish water and eat some food, (something veterans who had to endure this kit didn't have the luxury of) and into the evenings where most will be drinking and being merry, I'll still be in my gear and probably ready for bed!
But this isn't about me, not really. This is just one way to raise awareness at an event loved by thousands to bring Combat Stress to their attention with the aim to support those veterans that served for us all and suffered mental challenges in silence, witnessing atrocities no human should see and typically left to care for themselves.
They deserve respect and our support, and this tiny sacrifice is what I want to do to help. I hope maybe you're reading this and feel compelled to donate. Please do!
Thank you for reading this essay! My love goes out to all.
James
I am raising vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.
Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health. For over a century, they've helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict.
I’m taking on vital steps towards ensuring veterans can get the support they need.
Thank you so much for your support.
My Achievements
Thank you to my Sponsors
£896.85
James Ducassé
£150
James Ducassé
Bank Transfer of cash raised in the gear sale, where all proceeds went toward this fundraiser.
£122.31
John Masters
£119.79
Steve B-s
£106.85
Alex
£106.85
Ed
£106.85
Anonymous
Fantastic work, I know there were hard times but you managed to push through and raise a lot of money for a great cause!
£93.27
Jon
Amazing job last year! Keep it up!
£87.82
C Jwd/rubbahh!!!
good luck - hope weather is good to you
£50
James Ducassé
To kick things off, I wanted to donate my own money to reinforce how much I want to hit the goal, you don't have to match it or even give 10%, but every little helps. Thank you!
£42.39
Spike
Good luck with this.
£33.15
Robin Southgate
Wolfy
£25
Buster
Best of luck James! This is a great cause and will be worth all your efforts.
£23.45
John Proctor
£23.45
Lee Campbell
£20
Cal
Thanks for saving my outfit x
£20
Bash
£19.38
Joshua Collins
£17.89
Timothy Poole
£12.25
Devon Drew.
Great bloke and a great cause.
£12.01
Limo
Thanx for the gloves 😘
£10
Big Tom
Keep at it!
£10
Money Collected during Military Odyssey over the August bank holiday weekend. Thank you all who donated.